Psalm Meditation 833
Proper 5
June 5, 2016

Psalm 149
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)

Imagine your child, grandchild or your best friend sitting stone faced and still in your presence, afraid to move or speak or make any noise at all for fear of offending or even angering you. And now imagine your reaction to this behavior from your loved one. It is painful to know that there is some wall or wedge between you, even when you know what it is. If you know that your relative or friend has become afraid of you, especially when they are afraid because they have been told by someone they trust that you are scary and will fly off the handle for the smallest reason.

Now think of your behavior when you are aware that you are in the presence of God. In a time of worship or formal prayer time you feel yourself being judged and found wanting, and you know that it is God whose ire you feel. You know this because someone you trust let you know that God is not one to be trifled with, God does not appreciate your enthusiasm or your reckless abandon as you enter this sacred time and place. What if that person you trust is simply passing on the fear of judgment they received from one they trusted. I think we are so afraid of offending God in our worship that we end up sucking the fun out of it and placing the blame on God.

Look again at verse 4, “For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.” God actually enjoys our company. God likes to see us enjoying ourselves and the people around us. Yes, there is a time for decorum, for our best behavior and sometimes that is during worship. There are other times in which it is important to let our joy out, to remind ourselves how enjoyable it is to be with the one who loves us deeper, higher and wider than anyone else loves us and beyond our ability to comprehend. Yes, I grew up with lots of people who told me that being with God is deathly serious. I am reminded every now and then that my whole life is spent in the presence of God. God is with me as I tell stories good and bad, God is with me when I go places that are safe and dangerous, and God is with me when I am aware and when I am not. And no matter what God loves me and you and all those other people we know and love and all those people who drive us to distraction.

May 30, 2016
LCM